State: Shut troubled Houston-area school district

HOUSTON—The state's top education official has renewed a demand that a troubled Houston-area school district close and be absorbed by the neighboring Houston school district.

On Thursday, Education Commissioner Michael Williams renewed the order given a year ago by predecessor Robert Scott to close the 6,000-student North Forest school district. Scott had given the district a one-year reprieve.

The order, which takes effect July 1, now goes Texas Education Agency Chief Deputy Lizzette Gonzalez-Reynolds, whom Scott had entrusted with the final decision. The Justice Department also must approve the merger with the Houston district.

The district has a long history of poor academic scores and financial problems and received the state's lowest academic rating for six years.

A message left with North Forest Superintendent Edna Forte on Thursday wasn't returned.